Spartan hoops squads nurse wins streaks

"The real Bainbridge High School girls’ basketball season is finally under way.That’s because the defending state 3A champions are finally at full strength – and it was in evidence in every minute of the Spartans’ 83-32 rout of Sequim Friday night.Alexis Kimball, making her first start since being sidelined by a knee injury, looked like she had never been gone against the Wolves before a packed house at Woodward Middle School."

“The real Bainbridge High School girls’ basketball season is finally under way.That’s because the defending state 3A champions are finally at full strength – and it was in evidence in every minute of the Spartans’ 83-32 rout of Sequim Friday night.Alexis Kimball, making her first start since being sidelined by a knee injury, looked like she had never been gone against the Wolves before a packed house at Woodward Middle School. The 6-1 junior knocked down six of nine shots and all four of her free throws to lead five Bainbridge players in double figures with 16 points.“I’m psyched. I’m ready,” Kimball said. “I just went out there and did my thing, and I’m happy with how it turned out.”Kim Beemer (14 points, 11 rebounds), Emily Pierce (14 points, 10 boards), Nicole Hebner (12 points on 5-of-6 shooting) and Caiti Kruse (10 points, three steals) also contributed to a standout team attack. The Spartans (2-1, 2-0 in Olympic League play) overall made 36 of 61 field goals for a stunning 59 percent performance, as the team streaked to a 27-2 lead early in the second quarter and never looked back.“We ran plays well, played great defense and got great games from everyone on my team,” Spartan coach Penny Gienger said. “We’re really starting to get it together.”Just in time, too, as Bainbridge traveled last night to Port Angeles, a perennial league archrival which this year has traded in its trademark height for a three-point attack. The Roughriders were also 2-1 and 2-0 after their latest win, a 68-48 crushing of Central Kitsap.The Spartans next travel to Bremerton in a Friday night contest before taking an 11-day holiday break.Bainbridge JV 55, Sequim 19: Laura Bartunek scored 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting and Christine Schwager added 10 in just two quarters of play for coach Korrie Beemer’s 1-1 Spartans. Boys run wins streak to threeBe it by barnburner or by blowout, the bottom line was the same for the Bainbridge High School boys’ basketball team this weekend.A big “W.”The Spartans stretched their win streak to three games with a 53-47 overtime victory over Sequim Friday and a 69-37 cruise over Glens Eagle of British Columbia Saturday.Drew Stenesen was Bainbridge’s Most Valuable Player over the two-day stretch, sinking five free throws in overtime to lift the Spartans to a road win over the pesky Wolves (1-3 overall, 0-2 in Olympic League play). The 6-2 senior also sank six of nine field goals, all four of his free throws, and blocked three shots in the following night’s home contest.For the season, the wing-player-turned-post is averaging 12.3 points, second on the team to Nick Thompson’s 13.3 mark, and leading the Spartans with 6.8 rebounds.“Our guys seem to be relying on him more and more,” Bainbridge coach Jeff Eller said. “We have guys who shoot the perimeter well, but we can’t always depend on that. He’s a big man who can also run the floor, and it’s nice to see your post be able to be the first man up the court.”Thompson wasn’t too terrible either, scoring 10 points Friday despite an off-night from his outside shooting game. He came back to sink four of six 3-pointers against the Canadians for a team-high 17 points. Sophomore point guard Mike Botefuhr is also averaging in double figures after a team-high 12-point effort against Sequim.The Spartans, who hosted Port Angeles Tuesday night, take on league archrival Bremerton in a Friday evening contest at the Woodward Middle School gym.Bainbridge JV split: The Spartans (2-2) lost to Sequim 67-42 Friday before rebounding against Glen Eagles, B.C. by a 55-41 count Saturday. Cristian Gibbs was Bainbridge’s top scorer against the Wolves, while Pat Fiander topped the team’s totals the next night. Freshman team scores were unavailable at press time.”